CandyStore.com analyzed 11 years (2007-2017) of exclusive sales data to determine the #1 Best-selling Halloween candy in each state, as well as the runners up, in pounds of candy sold.

Who knew salt water taffy would be the most popular candy in Washington and Nebraska?

I think of salt water taffy as a summertime, vintage treat. But no! It’s still in high demand, even at Halloween.

When I was a little girl growing up in Ireland, my aunt who lived in New Jersey brought some salt water taffy from Atlantic City with her on vacation. I remember being amazed by the unique flavors, all completely new to my Irish palate.

Irish people love candy, or sweets as they are called in the Emerald Isle. In 2016 Ireland ranked second in the world behind Germany in a per capita consumption of candy rating by a London based company, Euromonitor.

Here’s a post I wrote comparing Irish sweets with American candy. I hope it helps you discover your favorite Irish chocolate bar, important information for chocolate lovers planning a trip to Ireland.

I hope you enjoy this state-by-state candy discovery map, as we all get in gear for Halloween. Now you have research driven information to help you choose the best three candies to please trick-or-treaters in your state. Happy candy purchasing in the coming weeks.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

P.S. CandyStore.com is an industry leader in online bulk candy sales in the United States and Canada, and offers candies of all shapes, sizes, colors, and brands. Featured on TIME, People, Martha Stewart Living, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and many more, these candy experts take pride in having an insatiable sweet tooth! Irish American Mom does not have a business relationship with CandyStore.com. I enjoyed this interactive map they shared with me, and thought you might too.

This Halloween 64 million Americans will carve a pumpkin, but did you know the Irish brought the tradition of carving pumpkins at Halloween to America?

Note: This post contains affiliate links which means I will earn a small commission should you choose to purchase a product through this link. The price you pay does not change.

In the new book Easy Pumpkin Carving: Spooktacular Patterns, Tips & Ideas by Colleen Dorsey you will learn how to carve the best Jack-O-Lantern on the block. This little book teaches both traditional and modern pumpkin carving and decorating techniques. From the classic Jack-O-Lantern and the Spooky Black Cat to creative new designs, it really has something for everyone!

Today I have a copy of this little book for a reader to win, together with a pumpkin carving tool kit. But before I tell you how to enter, let’s first explore a little history of pumpkin carving.

Making Jack O’Lanterns – A Celtic Tradition:

The Irish brought the tradition of carving Jack O’Lanterns to America. But, the original Irish Jack O’Lanterns were not made out of pumpkins.

Pretty scary looking this turnip head lantern. No wonder the Irish adopted pumpkins for their Halloween artwork once they got to America.

Stingy Jack And The Jack O’Lantern:

The reason for all this turnip carving centered around a notoriously mean character called Stingy Jack. His legend has been handed down for generations in Irish folklore. There are many versions of the tale of Stingy Jack, but here’s one I like.

Jack was a bit of a cod actor. He loved to play tricks and one day he made a serious mistake. He decided to play a trick on the Devil himself. Using his guile and smooth talking ways he managed to convince the Devil to climb into an apple tree. When the Devil wasn’t looking Jack placed crosses around the tree trunk, stranding the Devil in the tree.

And then Jack did the unthinkable. He made a deal with the Devil. Before removing the crosses to free the Devil, Jack made Old Nick Himself promise not to touch his soul when he passed away.

Decades later, Jack passed to the other side and headed off to the gates of Heaven. Now Stingy Jack’s reputation preceded him and Saint Peter denied him entry to Heaven. Stingy Jack headed toward Hell but being true to his promise, the Devil wouldn’t let Stingy Jack enter.

Jack was stranded between Heaven and Hell and in a very dark place. He asked the Devil for some light, and the Devil threw him a burning coal. Jack placed the coal inside a carved out turnip and has been roaming the highways and byways of Ireland and the world ever since.

The Irish called this ghostly figure “Jack of the Lantern” which over the years has been shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.”

Lantern Lighting On Halloween:

On All Hallow’s Eve Irish tradition was to light Jack O’Lanterns to keep Stingy Jack away. Turnips, rutabagas, beets and potatoes were hallowed out to hold burning embers and light up the night.

When Irish immigrants came to American shores in droves throughout the 1800’s they brought their rutabaga carving ways with them. Now rutabagas are not easy to carve. For anyone who likes to eat rutabaga as a side you know how difficult it is to peel and cut a rutabaga.

The Irish in America soon discovered the larger and and easier to carve pumpkin and got busy making their Jack O’Lanterns for Halloween. This Irish tradition of carving pumpkins continues to this very day throughout the United States.

And so, as you carve your pumpkin this year, remember you are practicing a little bit of your Irish heritage.

Easy Pumpkin Carving:

And now that I have you all interested in carving pumpkins let’s explore Coleen Dorsey’s excellent book which is chock full of pumpkin .

Photographs throughout this book provide details of the numerous techniques shown. I love all the wonderful images of finished pumpkins.

Whether you are a beginner or a pro when it comes to pumpkin carving, this book has something for everyone.

There is a complete section on how to embellish pumpkins which is perfect for younger children. No sharp tools required.

Etching is another option for older kids, and there’s a link for an online pattern at the end of the book. Plenty of inspiration to be found for all pumpkin crafters this Halloween season.

So Many Ways To Create Halloween Pumpkins:

Until I read this book I had no idea there are so many ways to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween.

First of all, you’ll find tips and tricks to make pumpkin carving easier, faster, and more effective than the carving you might already know how to do.

Second of all, this book helps you choose the perfect pumpkin from the many varieties now available. Pumpkins are even sold in Ireland these days. Apparently the Irish climate is perfect for growing pumpkins.

You will also learn several techniques for carving and embellishing pumpkins that go beyond traditional carving.

You can create luminary pumpkins and etched pumpkins, combine multiple pumpkins in creative ways, and embellish pumpkins without even touching a knife.

It won’t be until you see the ideas presented in this book that you’ll realize just how cool (and easy) pumpkin carving can be!

The Giveaway:

To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Thursday, October 19th, 2017.

Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us about your family Halloween traditions or perhaps you have a pumpkin carving tip to share.

A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, October 19th 2017, at the bottom of this blog post.

You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries by clicking here.

A big thank you to Colleen Dorsey for this wonderful book and to Fox Chapel Publishing who provided me with a digital copy of this text to help me prepare this blog post.

And thanks to all who join in the fun and support this giveaway. Please feel free to share this post and let friends and family know they could be in with a chance to win this lovely prize.

And if you win, be careful with those sharp carving tools. Happy pumpkin carving to all.

Winner Chosen:

A winner has been randomly chosen using the Pick Giveaway Winner Plugin for WordPress. The happy pumpkin carver will be …..

Veronica Vatter

I’ll send Veronica an email to let her know the good news. Many thanks to all who entered this giveaway and thank you to Fox Chapel Publishing for introducing this book to us.

Halloween and fall celebrations are in full swing all around America. Today, I have a little treat for all who are interested in Celtic history and the Irish origins of Halloween.

I’m delighted to introduce you to a documentary film all about “Spiorad na Samhna” (phonetically pronounced as “spir-id nah sow-nah”, with “sow” said as it is when referring to a pig), which in English means the “Spirit of Halloween.”

Dancers at the Spiorad na Samhna Festival in Derry

This bilingual short film tells a two-fold story of how the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) was transformed into today’s Halloween, as well as the origins of Ireland’s biggest Halloween Carnival, in Derry.

The latter began in 1982 in a very bleak period in the city’s history, post- Hunger Strikes. Before then, only children dressed up at Halloween. Tony Toland, manager of the Castle Bar, decided to hold a competition for best costumes.

Tony Toland of the Castle Bar, organizer of the 1982 Halloween Celebration in Derry.

In the first year, only a half dozen people dressed up but, within 3 years, the idea had spread to other bars and spilled on to the streets in a chaotic but peaceful way. Thousands headed to the city center each year, mingling with armed police and soldiers — some imitating them in great detail!

It was this spontaneous, mad event until 1986 when the City Council, recognizing it was a success, added music and fireworks, then a parade, leading to the 3-day Halloween Carnival in Derry, now the biggest in Ireland.

Of course, the roots of Halloween go deeper. Dr. Jenny Butler, Univeristy College, Cork, narrates how it developed from the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when people prepared for winter, when the Otherworld opened, allowing communication between the living and the dead.

The film has now been screened at festivals in Ireland, Italy and at Irish film festivals in Boston and Seattle.

You can watch the entire short film on Vimeo.

A big thank you to Dessie Baker, the director of this documentary, for sharing his work with us today. Much appreciation goes to other members of this film team including Ciara Ní Fhearghail, the editor, together with Éadaoin Breathnach, Chris McAlinden, and Fiachra O Longain for their camera and sound work, and Paul Kerr for pub photos.

Wishing you all a very happy October, and may all your fall and Halloween celebrations be full of fun and laughter.

Move over Valentine’s Day – Halloween is nearly here, and in olden days in Ireland, this was the time of year for predicting romances, just waiting to flourish.

The Irish were, and still are, a very superstitious race. Since we will be celebrating Halloween at the end of this month (or all through this month, if you live in America), I thought why not explore some old Irish superstitions associated with this holiday, especially those centering around romance, love and marriage.

Halloween is a great time for fortune telling and divination according to Irish tradition. In days gone by Halloween night was a time when the Irish believed the future and past coincided, and for one night only every year, all time frames existed in the present. If the future collides with the present at Halloween, what better time could there be for looking into what the future may hold.

For all those in search of someone special to share their future, Halloween is the best night of the year to try to figure out who might be waiting just for you. Well that’s what the Irish believed anyway.

Here are some simple, romantic, prophetic tests from Ireland’s Celtic past and from around the British Isles…..

If your cabbage is bitter, then I’m afraid a sour, old, so-and-so may be in your future. But if your cabbage is sweet, then your fate holds a kindhearted, loving mate.

The cabbage test was easy to complete if you lived in rural Ireland many years ago, but I’m afraid we urban dwellers today have little access to cabbage patches. So then, your best bet for predicting love is to move on to the bonfire test.

The Bonfire Test:

A Halloween bonfire is touted as a way to help envision a future partner. Bonfires featured significantly in ancient, Celtic celebrations of Halloween or Samhain. Here’s what must be done to encourage dreams of your future love.

Simply snip a few strands of your hair, and drop them into the burning embers of a Halloween fire.

The magical flames of your burning hair will encourage vivid dreams of your future spouse. I hope he or she will fulfill all your dreams.

The Apple Peel Test:

Apples were also used for telling the future on Halloween night. When I was a little girl in Dublin, most home owners shared apples and nuts with trick or treaters, rather than candy or sweets. In recent years I have come to appreciate how this custom was rooted in age old traditions.

The apple peel love test may have originated in Scotland rather than Ireland, but this trick was practiced throughout the British Isles. A little apple peeling skill is required for this one.

First you must peel an apple all in one go, creating a long strip of peel. Love awaits only for those who can remove the peel with no breakages.

The peel must then be thrown over the shoulder. As it falls the peel may land to reveal the initial of a would-be suitor.

Hazlenut Trials:

If you’re still interested in finding out if your spouse will be bitter or sweet, and don’t have time to go pulling cabbages to cook, then never fear. A hazelnut will reveal your future love’s temperament, just as accurately as a trusted cabbage.

Simply pick out the hazelnut you believe represents your future love. Crack the shell and taste. You’ll quickly learn if a sweet or bitter nut awaits in your future.

And there’s even more romantic news to be uncovered through these powerful nuts.

If you want to know if your future marriage will be full of happiness, then you and your partner must each choose a hazelnut.

Light a match between the two nuts (only do this on a flameproof surface), and watch how your two nuts react, not only to each other, but to the flame of love burning between them.

Remember our forebears had stone hearths for these fiery tricks, so don’t do anything dangerous.

If the nuts burn quickly, then alack and alas, the future marriage may not be strong, and may be at great risk of crumbling when life gets tough.

Now if your two nuts do a little dance and move away from each other, then proceed to marriage with caution.

Believe it or not, these trusted nuts hold even more secrets of the future. Hazelnuts can be used to choose between potential beaus.

In the past, inquisitive young women determined which admirer might be faithful, by choosing three nuts, and naming them after the young men she wished to test. The three nuts were placed upon the bars of the fire grate.

If a nut cracked or jumped, then that lover might be unfaithful. If the nut burned brightly then that beau held a flame for the girl performing the hazelnut trial.

This test could be taken a step further by adding a fourth nut, named after the girl. If her nut and one of the nuts named after a potential suitor blazed together, then love was assured and marriage inevitable.

A Bowl of Porridge:

Now if you don’t have time to be baking fancy barmbracks with rings and things inside, do not fear. A simple bowl of porridge will do the trick.

Fuarag (pronounced foo-ur-ag) is a traditional dish of oatmeal mixed with cream. If you’re eager to learn if new love is just around the corner for you or one of your friends, just make a big pot of porridge.

Add some cream, a ring and a coin. Dish out the porridge to all those seeking to know if their future holds marriage or wealth. The lucky finder of the ring will be married within the year, while wealth awaits whoever recovers the coin.

And hold your breath if your bowl of creamy gruel reveals both the ring and the coin – a wealthy spouse may soon cross your path.

Remember to eat with caution on Halloween night – all these bits and pieces in traditional foods are a major choking hazard.

Colcannon:

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish served at Halloween. It’s a mix of kale and mashed potatoes, served with melted butter, and once again this simple dish holds the powers of divination.

In the past, unmarried women would take their first and last spoonful of colcannon and put it inside a stocking. These colcannon stockings were hung from the frame of the front door. The first man to enter the house and pass beneath the fortune telling stocking would become their husband.

Halloween – A Time For Romance:

And there you have it – my romantic guide to Halloween festivities. If you know of any more prophetic Halloween traditions concerning love and marriage, please feel free to add your two cents worth in the comment section below. I look forward to hearing new superstitions from all over the world.

Halloween – The Irish Connection

As you get all dressed up in your costume this year, or light up your carved out pumpkin, remember that together we celebrate a holiday that is truly Irish and American. Read more about the ever-evolving Irish-American tradition of Halloween in this post from a few years ago.

In ancient Ireland Oíche Shamhna or Halloween night was a celebration of the final harvest of the year. An additional place was set at dinner to invite dead ancestors to the table. It was believed boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead were thinnest on this night. Spirits were free to move between worlds and rejoin the living.

Irish Halloween Foods:

Now if you’re wondering what should be on the menu for your ghostly guests, traditional Irish Halloween foods are colcannon and barm brack or tea brack.

My carrot and coriander soup may not be traditional Halloween fare, but its orange color makes it perfect fuel for little witches and vampires before they head off on a long candy trek.

Why I Love Halloween In America:

Halloween may have started in Ireland, but Americans truly know how to celebrate in style. When I first crossed the Atlantic many moons ago, it was such a relief to discover Halloween is celebrated on an even bigger scale in America than in Ireland. Check out this post to find my top ten reasons for loving Halloween – American Style.

Irish Faerie Folk:

Wonderful insights into the faerie folk of Irish myths and legends are available on the Got Ireland website. Many of Ireland’s infamous, magical, spooky characters of yore are explored in a series of supernatural posts, just perfect for Halloween.

Happy Halloween To All:

Now that the time has come to find those scary costumes, and trick or treat to the orange glow of Jack-O’-Lanterns, I wish you all a very happy and safe Halloween! I hope you enjoy a holiday full of spooktacular fun.